Photography | Change Is Hard

May 8, 2026
by dawnkinster 6 Comments

The orioles are back!

Historically the orioles (bright orange migrating birds) come back to my feeder from their winters in South America about (and almost always ON) May 5th.

*I would like to announce my arrival, lady!*

This year people were reporting them returning to their yards in lower Michigan at the end of April. So I put my oriole feeder out then. And then I waited. Every day I thought “this will be the day.”

*Have you filled my royal feeder with my royal jelly?*

And suddenly it was. My first sighting was May 1st and I was very excited. He was extra hungry and between him and the house finches I started going through a lot of jelly. Of course I didn’t mind at all.

Today I figured out there are actually two males. And possibly two females now. Though today I saw a picture online by a bird photographer who does a lot of educating with her images. She said her photograph was probably a young male, perhaps last years youngster. She said they look like females but have more black on them, like a male.

So now I’m considering that the two ‘females’ I’ve had might just be last year baby boys. That would make sense, as the males always arrive first.

*A female? Or a young male?* *I think young male.*

Either way the four of them have been at the feeder all day, every day since at least the 5th. AND I also get hummingbirds the next day (the 6th) of May, and a rose breasted gross beak!

*Ahem….what have you planned for MY dinner?*

The hummers and the gross beak arrived a day late, but I was just as happy to see them.

*I hope she has safflower seed for me. That’s my favorite.*

I don’t have an image of the male hummingbird yet, he’s very skittish. But the gross beak has always been something of a photo hog. He’s not skittish at all, as long as you move slowly. And your dog doesn’t bark.

The same day that the gross beak and the hummer arrived I saw a catbird, also a migrating bird that isn’t here in the winter.

*Hey! Don’t be so grumpy. It’s OK to share a little of your royal jelly.*

And across the street in the pond was an egret. Though my pictures of that bird are just bad. I always have trouble with the bright white of egrets. I know I’ll have more opportunities so I’ll wait until I get a better image before I share.

BUT, I have to say that the 5th and 6th were very big bird days in and around my yard!

*Red bellied woodpecker also likes grape jelly.*

All the photos here were taken through a window, working through reflections and grime. But I didn’t care, I was just thrilled to see them all.

May 3, 2026
by dawnkinster 13 Comments

One day at a time

Every day is a new day. Each morning, as the sun comes up gently warming my room I wonder what the day will bring. Our little family, Penny, husband and I, are working together to get through each day while noticing the beautiful things as well as the daily trials.

Friday I somehow strained a sciatic nerve in my right leg. I was fine most of the day, running with the dog at the park, in and out of the car while running errands. I was fine until suddenly I wasn’t.

At the drug store as I got out of the car I suddenly felt excruciating pain shoot up my leg. I stood still for a moment, hoping it would subside. It didn’t. I hobbled into the drug store, did my business and hobbled back to the car. At home I could barely get up the two front steps. Saturday I stayed in my recliner, napping and groaning.

The biggest problem we had to deal with was taking Penny out. Walking with her in the yard on uneven turf was so painful for me. And she’s been asking to go out a lot lately while not necessarily doing anything once we get outside.

I took her out four times in the morning, each an agony for me, and she didn’t do anything but wander around sniffing. My husband tried taking her out, using his walker. It was his first time to take her for a walk since he was discharged from the hospital almost two weeks ago.

She didn’t do anything, though they shuffled down to the stop sign and back. We decided if she didn’t have to go she didn’t have to go. She had two parents and neither in any shape to take care of her.

Later in the day Pen and I managed a short walk along the pond across the street. She still didn’t do anything, but I got a few pretty shots with my phone. And that made me smile.

Today I feel 80% better, and I know I’ll be able to take her out, maybe even for a real walk up the road. I hope she decides to do her jobs while we’re out there.

Getting old is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard, physically and mentally. It would be so easy to slide into the dark place we hold in the back of our minds. Focusing on getting through today and not thinking about tomorrow too much is my secret approach to today and every day going forward.

*Everywhere you look, something is beautiful.*

Getting through each day. That’s our plan. So far it’s working.

*Today’s pretty thing, mom! (me, right?!)*

April 6, 2026
by dawnkinster 29 Comments

The muse is missing – random thoughts

I haven’t felt photographically inspired for a long time. Except for my birds, mostly here at home, I haven’t felt like following my muse. It all just felt like too much work and my world right now is feeling pretty unsettled with no room for wandering around with a camera.

But yesterday a storm front sent clouds racing across the sky. I happened to be out running a short errand when I noticed the sky and for the first time in a long time I felt a spark.

Just a small spark, but for a moment I thought about turning around and grabbing the camera and heading out to look for interesting moments. Something lightened in my chest. And even though I knew I couldn’t take off exploring right then, I knew that someday I could. On the way home I stopped and grabbed a quick shot, using my phone, of our local nursery under the cloudy sky. It felt good.

And then this morning, at 6 a.m. I was walking in the front yard while Penny was looking for her perfect spot, when I noticed the half moon getting ready to set.

And I realized that there were 4 humans up there, closer to the moon than to earth. I watched the moon for awhile, feeling an excitement that I haven’t felt since we explored the moon decades ago when I was a kid.

I wasn’t so excited that I went and got my good camera and the tripod, that still seems like too much work, but I thought about it. My photography is gaining energy, and someday, maybe soon, I’ll be exploring with the camera again.

In the meantime the camera on the phone is pretty great, and the backyard isn’t bad either.

Wordless Wednesday

April 1, 2026 by dawnkinster 8 Comments

March 26, 2026
by dawnkinster 20 Comments

Experimenting with flight

No, not my flight, though when I was young I did think I’d like to fly a plane, and when I was even younger I used to dream that I could fly like a bird.

*This is the scene from the window and what I had to shoot around.*

No, this morning I put some peanuts in the flat feeder, and that quickly brought in my merry band of noisy bluejays. I swear they sit up in the trees and wait for me to fill the feeders. They always arrive immediately and with great fanfare.

*Trying to focus on the bird among the branches.*

And while I was standing at the window, watching them come and go in the morning light, I realized I could try to capture their flight. They were much too busy hogging the peanuts to notice me.

*He has 3 peanuts in his beak and more in his throat. But he’s not really in focus.*

You need a very short shutter speed to stop those wings in mid-flight, at least 1/2000 per second. If there is sunlight that’s easier to accomplish.

I took 84 images before the sun was hidden by the clouds of the latest incoming storm front. Out of that barely a handful are passable. But I learned a lot and some day I will try again.

I’m sharing them with you now, because bluejays, no matter the fact they are obnoxious, are truly beautiful.

Even if they are little pigs.

March 23, 2026
by dawnkinster 29 Comments

Visitor

I haven’t seen one of these in my yard in years. But yesterday afternoon she arrived.

*My first glimpse of this female pileated woodpecker.*

And she wasn’t here very long, just checking out the stumps of trees we had to cut down.

And then she was gone.

It’s just pure luck I happened to look outside while she was here. And that my camera was next to me when I did.

March 22, 2026
by dawnkinster 22 Comments

Proof

Backyard proof that spring is coming, and even if it’s still really cold out. Even when there is snow threatening to fall. Again. Absolute proof rests with my birds.

And the goldfinches are turning yellow.

Female blackbirds, hummingbirds and orioles will be here soon. Guaranteed.

March 11, 2026
by dawnkinster 30 Comments

Filling in

Penny here. I’m filling in for my mom who seems to be very busy. She and daddy are gone a lot during the day and I’m left to guard the house.

I will tell you that I am a very fierce guard dog — if I’m on the other side of a door. If someone, say the cleaning lady, comes through the door, well, I’m just a happy puppy that needs to get her head rubbed.

I can’t help it. I’m adorable.

*Running in my park is one of my favorite things to do!*

Anyway, mom and I haven’t been to dog school in a couple weeks. I don’t know when we’ll be back in school. Mom even missed some band, and there’s a concert (so she tells me) this coming Friday!

*We had a beautiful day for a walk at my park!*

I don’t know, the folks seem entirely disorganized at the moment. I think I’m going to have to give them a stern talking to. I’m sure they’ll shape up if I can get them to focus on me.

After all. I AM the most important dog in this household!

*Just because all the snow melted doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods. (Hee hee, see what I did there?)*

Mom did take me to my park this week. We call it Penny’s Park because mom didn’t take my sister Katie there very often. Mom says that’s because she didn’t discover it until Katie was pretty old, and it’s very hilly.

*It got pretty windy, even in the woods.*

I don’t think my sister will mind that this one is named after me. We still call her parks Katie’s Park and Katie’s Park II. I wish she and I had been able to walk in our parks together.

*Mom and I worked on my “STAY!” I aced it of course.*

Anyway, after a long walk in my park I decided a nap in my dad’s lap was just the ticket. Lucky for me my dad obliged.

Talk later, your substitute hostess, Pretty Penny, park explorer extraordinaire.

February 28, 2026
by dawnkinster 22 Comments

And the rest of the birds

Well, I left you on the trails in the woods of Kensington quite a long time ago. You’ve likely forgotten I left you stranded there, what with the red winged interruption and then of course Penny’s Wordless Wednesday.

There’s a lot going on here in Penny’s house and I’ve been too busy to finish up my walk with you and my birds, so let me just say the last few birds I met along the trail were all turkeys.

*Where there’s one, there’s always another following.*

Literally.

But here are a few of my favorite bird pictures from that walk. It all feels so long ago, but I hope they conjure up a beautiful day in the woods for all of you.

They do for me.

That’s it for me for awhile. When things settle down some I’m sure I’ll be back. Meanwhile, spend some time outside, finding your own special places and post. I just might find time to stop in for a pick-me-up!

February 19, 2026
by dawnkinster 37 Comments

It’s been a long time, Kensington

Last week I jumped at the chance to visit Kensington on one of our only blue sky days. It had been a long time, and I was hoping the birds were hungry even though I got out there a little later in the day than I like. But, instead of me telling you about it, let me just show you. You know it’s all about the birds….right?

*A sandhill crane sunbathing and not wanting to be disturbed.* *So I didn’t get close. A long lens helps.*

*I found the red-headed woodpecker at his usual corner. Wonder if there’s going to be a nest in there this spring?*

*Meanwhile the little birds were definitely hungry. This is a titmouse. They are so cheeky.*

*A bluejay keeps a careful watch for any spillage.*

*I did spend a lot of time with my hand out hoping to entice the bluejay or the woodpeckers down for brunch.*

*The male downy woodpecker was interested…but uncertain.*

*The squirrel enthusiastically enjoyed his treat.*

*And watching it all is a male red-belly woodpecker. Who really wants a snack but doesn’t want to get too close.*

*Though he works his way down from the tree to get a little closer, keeping his eye on me.*

*Meanwhile the little birds fly in and out, grabbing snacks on the go.*

*And right next to the path, last year’s young sandhill crane is poking around in the mud of a stream.*

*Under the watchful eye of mom and dad. They were both just a bit further up the stream. And they knew exactly where I was.*

*The red-belly supervises it all, including me, from his safe place.*

*Brunch continues with a titmouse grabbing a shelled peanut.*

*Now there was a bit of a traffic jam. Notice the chickadee wing shadow on the downy woodpecker’s chest.*

*The woodpecker won, but the chickadee will be back, see him behind the woodpecker?*

*The red-belly is happy with his score.*

*But wait! Who is this? A FEMALE red-belly waits for a snack of her own.*

*The chickadee tells her off, he’s been displaced once too often already.*

*But it’s time for me to leave all this drama behind. I move on, leaving seed on the path for everyone to share.*

Will I see any more birds on the rest of my walk. Well…of course…but they were birds of a different feather. They’ll show up in this blog soon I’m sure. They’re kind of pushy.

Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Photography